It isn't just Manchester City's dithering over Arsenal striker Robin van Persie's transfer which is frustrating Roberto Mancini. The Daily Star says City have also yet to buy a central defender as cover for Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott, with Liverpool's Martin Skrtel a target.

And Mancini is irritated that players he ditched two years ago, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz, have still not been sold, taking around £1m a month out of the club in wages.

Only last month chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak warned City will not be ripped off in the transfer market.

So they will not match Arsenal's £30m valuation for a 29-year-old injury-prone player with only a year left on his deal. They are willing to pay only £15m.